Thursday, December 23, 2004

DECEMBRELE EARNS ECAC ALL-NORTHEAST FIRST TEAM NOD

MEDFORD – Defensive end Chris Decembrele (Walpole, MA/Walpole), the Tufts Football team's co-MVP as a sophomore this fall, was recently selected to the 2004 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III All-Northeast First Team. As one of 12 players, four at his position, named to this First Team, he has been chosen as one of the region's top players for the year.

The 6-foot, 225-pound Decembrele was recognized as a linebacker, though he played defensive end in the Tufts package. No matter what you call it, he was a presence in the opposition's offensive backfield all season. He led the Jumbos and was seventh in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) with 73 total tackles (40 solo) in eight games. His nine tackles for 52 yards in losses, along with his 3 ½ sacks for 32 yards in losses, also led the Tufts, and his eight passes batted down or defended were second-best on the squad. He also blocked a kick.

In a year when the Tufts defense was questioned at the start due to its youth, Decembrele and Co-MVP Chris Lawrence (Falmouth, MA/Falmouth) led a unit that got better every week. The Jumbos finished the year ranked fifth in the conference, allowing 17.4 points and 290.8 yards per game. Tufts finished 2-6 overall, defeating second-place Amherst and three times losing by four points or less.

Decembrele was credited with double-figures in tackles three times and with nine on two other occasions. He had a season-high 15 stops (nine solo) in the highlight 10-3 victory over previously unbeaten Amherst on October 30. His 10 tackles (4 solo) helped the Jumbos in their other victory, a 14-12 final against Bates on October 2. He added six solos and six assists for 12 total in a close 10-9 loss to Williams on October 23. When injuries limited the team's return group, Decembrele even returned three kickoffs for 47 yards. He finished the season with an impressive four tackles behind the line of scrimmage (-18 yards) at Middlebury on November 13.

The starting center fielder for the Tufts baseball team, Decembrele hit .298 last spring with eight doubles, four triples, two home runs, 21 runs batted in and nine stolen bases as a freshman. He is one of the best multi-sport athletes on the campus.

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